Is Dropshipping Worth It? The Pros and Cons You Need to Know

There’s a lot of hype surrounding dropshipping. But before diving in, ask yourself if dropshipping is worth it in 2022.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about dropshipping when I first started looking into it. But the more research I did, the more intrigued I became. Dropshipping seemed a great way to start an online business with little upfront investment or risk. And so, after much deliberation, I decided to give it a try.

Now that I’ve been running my own dropshipping business for a while now, I can answer with certainty dropshipping is worth it.

Dropshipping allowed me to quit my 9-5 job and work from home (which was always my dream). Because you don’t have to hold any stock yourself, running a dropshipped business is low-maintenance.

Let’s see if dropshipping is worth it for you.

Is dropshipping worth it?

Dropshipping can be an excellent way to make money, but it requires a lot of work. This isn’t your business model if you want to make money quickly.

Dropshipping can be a successful business strategy but requires significant time, money, and effort.

A dropshipping business is one where an online store doesn’t hold any inventory. When a customer orders, the store contacts their supplier, who then ships the items directly to the client’s home.

Dropshipping business ideas have been growing in popularity because they are relatively easy to start and require little capital. Unfortunately, some things are holding back the growth of some dropshippers.

These include delayed shipping times, low margins, bad customer service, slow refunds, low product quality, and more. Despite these challenges, dropshipping is still a viable option for those looking to start their own e-commerce business.

When running an e-commerce store, it’s common for business owners to neglect their customers in favor of profit. However, when running a dropshipped online store, it’s only natural to focus more on your customers.

Most drop shipping businesses don’t maintain a high-quality standard for their store because they sell products through ads on social media. This results in a bad customer experience, which decreases their trust in the business model.

The dropshipping model is not ideal for selling one-off products. This often leads to a poor experience for the customer and damages the overall sentiment in your business.

The particular situation needs a remedy.

The answer is simple. Be respectful to your customers.

The benefits of dropshipping

Let’s look at the advantages of dropshipping.

Minimal investment

You can start a dropshipping business with very little money. You only need a domain name, hosting, storefront, and drop shipper. You can then advertise to drive traffic to your site.

If you’re looking to set up an online store on a budget, Shopify could be a great option for you. A basic subscription to set up your shop will only cost about $29.

You can find suppliers for your dropshipping business on free platforms like Taobao or AliExpress.

You can also use affordable platforms like Facebook Ads for advertising.

This makes it possible to start your business with a meager investment.

With $100 spent on advertising and $29 on Shopify, you could start your online store for $200. Not a bad price at all!

Minimal risk

With drop shipping, you don’t have to buy any inventory upfront. This means if sales are low, you don’t risk having unsold products.

Since shoppers pay for their purchases upfront, there is no risk of customers declining to pay. This makes dropshipping a very low-risk business model.

The biggest risk you may face when dropshipping is with your supplier. Customers may demand refunds if they do not fulfill orders using quality fulfillment methods or replace damaged or substandard items. To minimize this risk, finding a reliable dropshipping partner is important.

Fully automated store

Running a dropshipping store is mainly about coordinating orders with your supplier, keeping track of what products they offer, customer care, and marketing. Although it may sound like a lot, it is quite easy to manage once you get the hang of it!

You can automate almost all of these e-commerce steps. Fortunately, there are lots of e-commerce tools that make it easy to manage your online store. 

You can use these tools to automatically update your dropshipping product listings, share orders with your supplier, and keep track of what your supplier has in stock. This way, you can avoid taking orders for products that are out of stock and disappointing your customers.

The only task you’ll have to do yourself is customer service. Which, considering everything else, is a great thing because it allows you to better connect with customers.

How to automate your dropshipping store?

Automating your dropshipping store is a great way to free up your time so you can pursue other sources of income.

Store owners can easily manage the store by scheduling brief check-ins at different times of the day. This will ensure that everything is running smoothly and you can answer any customer queries.

If you don’t have enough time to do everything you want, you can set aside tasks that require more time for days when you have more free time.

The secret to a successful dropshipping business

Thriving dropshipping businesses has one secret: putting the customer first. Giving buyers priority and solving their problems, these businesses can succeed while others fail.

They sell their products by dropping the shipping costs but compensate for that by refunding customers’ money quicker or helping them with all their questions.

For dropshipping success, businesses need to focus on their customers to be sustainable in 2022.

Dropshipping vs. affiliate marketing: Which is more profitable?

Dropshipping and affiliate marketing are two of the most popular e-commerce business models.

Since we’re basing our calculations on a 5% commission, and want to make $100,000, let’s assume 100,000 sales.

To make $1000 a month, you’ll need to sell $340 worth of products each day. Remember that you’ll earn $5 for every $100 you sell.

If you want to earn as much money in dropshipping, your customers need to spend about $7000 daily on your products. This would net you approximately $340 per day in profit.

There’s no doubt that drop shipping is more profitable than affiliate marketing. However, the debate over which one is more profitable still rages on. Dropshipping requires much more preparation than earning as an affiliate, but the potential earnings are much higher. It depends on what you’re looking for in terms of profitability.

What challenges do dropshippers have in 2022?

Many people think dropshipping as a “get rich quick scheme” and that they’ll make a lot of money from doing nothing. However, it’s not that simple, and there are certainly some cons of dropshipping.

1. They may have difficulty building trust and credibility with their customers.

2. They may struggle to find reliable dropshipping suppliers.

3. They may have difficulty keeping up with the ever-changing trends in the dropshipping industry.

One of the biggest problems that drop shippers face is shipping delays. This can cause a reduction in the number of customers visiting your online store.

Another downside of dropshipping is that some online retailers don’t properly check the quality of their products before shipping them out. This can result in customers receiving products that they never ordered. Refunds or returns can also damage the relationship of the payment processing company you’ve partnered with.

So, what are the solutions to these common dropshipping issues?

Use a shipping company that is efficient and has good customer service, so you can avoid any issues with lost or damaged products.

Try to do some product research, paying attention to reviews that are already online. This is an essential part of quality control and should be done well before you start an eCommerce business.

Keep your customers happy by offering them good customer service and discounts or coupons to encourage them to come back and shop with you again.

Can you still make a profit in dropshipping?

Is dropshipping profitable? In 2022, the answer is a resounding “yes.” As more people move away from sites like Alibaba, the popularity of drop shipping has skyrocketed.

It’s a great option for those looking to start selling online.

The e-commerce and dropshipping industries have generated over $4 billion in profits in the last ten years, with a 7% year-on-year increase.

Small business owners are finding that their smartphone sales are increasing by almost 30%.

How much money can you make from AliExpress dropshipping?

Here’s the truth about dropshipping. To make $100,000 annually through AliExpress dropshipping, you must sell approximately 833 products each month. This calculation is based on the average price of a product being $120.

Assuming you make a profit of $10 per order, you would earn approximately $10,000 monthly. This would amount to $120,000 per year.

This calculator assumes that your profit and expense will vary based on how much you invest in your AliExpress drop shipper. Ultimately, this proves that if done correctly, dropshipping can be a profitable venture.

Is dropshipping dead in 2022?

No, dropshipping is not dead in 2022. Several stats show that the dropshipping industry is still growing and has much potential.

The dropshipping industry is projected to be worth $557.9 billion by 2025.

For many new business owners, dropshipping is an appealing model because it requires very little startup capital and is easy to set up. Despite its popularity, dropshipping is not without its challenges. 

For one, because you don’t have control over your inventory, you may find yourself at the mercy of your suppliers. This can be especially problematic if your supplier is located in a different country; long shipping times and unexpected customs fees can eat into your profits.

Additionally, because just one or two people often run dropshipping businesses, they can be very time-consuming and may not be scalable in the long term.

Dropshipping is not dead. It has simply changed over the years. What used to be a process solely reliant on AliExpress has now shifted to working directly with wholesalers. This change has kept dropshipping alive and well, despite the yearly predictions of its death.

Dropshipping has come a long way in recent years. AliExpress used to be the only game in town, but now dropshippers are working directly with wholesalers to get their products. This change has made dropshipping more efficient and effective.

If you’re wondering whether dropshipping is still a viable business model in 2022, the answer is a resounding yes! Now is the perfect time to start your own dropshipping business.

Dropshipping is not dead. It is very much alive and well. The world has embraced e-commerce, and more people are buying online than ever. Merchants understand the concept of dropshipping and are willing to work with them. 

Sending online payments is easy and can help with online paid marketing campaigns. The upfront cost is almost zero.

Is dropshipping legal?

Dropshipping is legal, but certain laws in your country may apply. There have not been any cases of legal action against people for engaging in the practice, so as long as you’re complying with basic business practices, you should be in the clear.

When starting a dropshipping business, there are some basic guidelines that you should follow.

1. Honest pricing

It is illegal to mislead customers into purchasing a product or service by advertising a low price and then adding on extra charges later. This is considered fraud in most countries, and you could be held criminally liable.

2. Follow local regulations

Before you start your e-commerce store, it’s important to understand the laws that govern your industry within that country. By understanding these legalities, you can ensure that your business operations comply and avoid potential penalties.

Doing your homework is very important because you should know all the laws surrounding your industry.

Is dropshipping still alive?

Google Trends is a great way to see how popular the term “dropshipping” is. You can see how often it is searched for and how that has changed over time.

Based on Google Trends, “dropshipping” has been a popular search term in the past few years, with some small dips in search volume. Overall, however, the trend has been steadily increasing.

People have been asking if Alibaba dropshippers are dead, and here’s why. Search volume for the phrase ‘Alibaba dropshippers’ has increased by 10% over the past five years. The main reason behind dropshipping’s enduring popularity is AliExpress’s high availability of products and affordable prices.

While ‘Alibaba Dropshipping’ has been a popular business model, its popularity is nothing compared to that of dropshipping, which is more B2C focused and deals with smaller quantities. AliExpress also sells products to individual consumers.

One reason fewer people are interested in using the services of Alibaba is that they have far fewer payment options available than on sites like AliExpress.

How to master dropshipping

Dropshipping is a big eCommerce business model and has the potential to generate millions in home-based earnings for people all over the world. The dropshipping model isn’t for everyone, but if you’re willing to do the work, it can generate a lot of revenue. 

While there are some cons of dropshipping and challenges that drop shippers face, such as competition and legalities, with the right strategies in place, dropshipping can be profitable.

Many digital marketers are worried about their profitability, and with good reason.

The tech industry is always evolving, which can be both good and bad for businesses. On the one hand, it encourages growth and innovation. However, it also means that dropshipping companies have to work hard to stay relevant and sustainable.

While technology can be great for businesses, it also comes with some drawbacks.

But on the other hand, it also discards older ways right away. Companies that cannot keep up end up perishing.

CPC methods like Google AdSense, Chitika, and BidVertiser are no longer effective. Companies that rely on these methods will find themselves at a disadvantage.

Native ads and content marketing have replaced traditional display advertising.

Most business models will be irrelevant when you decide to use them.

When starting your e-commerce store, it’s essential to analyze different profitable business models, find retailers doing well with this model, and find a marketplace that makes selling products online easy for sellers.

What eCommerce platform should you use?

If you’re starting out in the dropshipping niche, you first need to consider which eCommerce platform for dropshipping you should use. Starting an eCommerce business isn’t easy, so do your research before you decide on a website builder. Here are some of the top store examples available: 

• Shopify: Shopify dropshipping is one of the most popular platforms on the market. If you have quality products, this is one of the easiest to use when building your store.
• Wix: This is one of the top e-commerce platforms for those who are tech savvy and can create their web design. It’s affordable, great for smaller businesses with lower profit margins, and you can choose your store themes.
• WooCommerce: Another top e-commerce platform that allows you to customize your site, whether you’re doing Amazon dropshipping through the Amazon affiliate program, AliExpress, or further outsourced. You can easily add your trending products to the site and update them whenever necessary.
• Squarespace: It is easy to set up and offers templated designs so you can easily add your products to sell online. Store owners will find this setup is great for newcomers as it’s one of the more basic platforms for dropshipping. 

The top eCommerce platforms offer various payment gateway options that make it easy for you to operate your business efficiently. Once you hit the shopping cart, you should be able to choose from several options, including credit card or even AfterPay.

Final thoughts

Is dropshipping worth it? Overall, I would say that, yes, dropshipping is worth it. Dropshipping could be a great option if you’re looking for a low-risk way to start your own e-commerce business. Of course, drop shipping has some downsides, but the pros outweigh the cons. So if you’re thinking about starting a dropshipping business and are ready to start, I say go for it!